Half of the Brain :
the place all those random thoughts that flit through my head each day go to die

The Blogroll...

last week I went ahead and blogrolled all the public blogs I read on a regular basis. I'm a lurker by nature (usually don't pipe-up on listserves, rarely leave comments on sites) but set up the blogroll for two reasons: It's an easy way to let those folks whose blogs I enjoy know that, yep, I read them on a regular basis. Also, since none of us-- even the lurkers-- live in a vacuum the blogs I read help to contextualize the half of the brain I blog about.

for what it's worth I read X because Y:

I read unfogged because "unf" and "ogged" was a joint blogging conceit I couldn't resist, it points me to lots of interesting news stories and websites that don't show up on the boilerplate reporting services.

I read the Inn, Crabby, and Mute, because in their own unique ways these blogs show real women living real lives while caring for their families, their careers, and themselves. K and C have shown me that Motherhood is by far the most difficult as well as rewarding thing one can do and I appreciate these women's perspectives on the same.

I read Rabid and Life in the Mystery, well, because on my list of "things I'd like to do one day" is to get an MLS.

I read Rants from Japan and Japan Sucks because live in Japan is on the list of "things I WILL DO one day"

I read Leylop because I learn more about China from her than I could from most other sources and because she makes me wonder if I'll ever be that fluent in a foreign language. I also enjoy the perspectives college twentysomethings have to offer, which is the same reason I read Dang it -- well that and because the Christian voice that's politically and socially moderate is far too easily overwhelmed by the ultra-conservative religious right. (And I must admit it does my heart good to know that not all students coming out of schools like LU buy the party-line).

I read Invisible Adjunct, Frolic, Frogs, Household, and Kitchen, because in their own ways they are all commentaries on academia. For all those who have given up, there are still those that persevere (and then there are those like me who findthemselves somewhere in-between).